Can I use BlackMagic avi?

[Chad Brewer]

I think it’s more of a codec issue than the hardware you’re using (Kona 3).
FCP lets you import some avi files and not others – I believe it has to do with the codec that is used to make the avi files. I’ve had success with bringing some avi files into FCP and not others. I would believe that FCP would like an avi if it were wrapped with a Blackmagic codec.
Maybe someone else will chime in here…

chad
TeleVersions Broadcast Video

[Ron Craig]

Thanks, Chad.

Yes, I don’t see where my Kona 3 would have any bearing on this question. I just included that information to give context for my question. It’s good to hear that you’ve had some success with some AVIs on an FCP timeline. I’d be interested in hearing what experience others have had using Blackmagic AVIs without having Blackmagic hardware/software installed.

Or whatever advice is relevant.

[Arnie Schlissel]

See if they can give you Apple Uncompressed. Or maybe an image sequence.

Arnie
Post production is not an afterthought!
https://www.arniepix.com/

[Chad Brewer]

Right Arnie, if Ron is paying all this money for a film to HD transfer, he could tell them his system is allergic to avi’s and make them figure out how to give him an uncompressed HD Quicktime if it is not confirmed that a Blackmagic avi will import, but I think it will. But also, last time I thought something would work, it obviously didn’t.

chad
TeleVersions Broadcast Video

[Arnie Schlissel]

[Chad Brewer] “Right Arnie, if Ron is paying all this money for a film to HD transfer, he could tell them his system is allergic to avi’s and make them figure out how to give him an uncompressed HD Quicktime”

What?! Getting what you pay for?!!? Shocking!!

OK, sarcasm aside, it’s possible to get cut rate telecine & film scans, but they’re usually not worth the “savings”. What I’ve seen is degrainers turned off, SD transfers bumped up to HD, poor focus, poor color/contrast, etc. Getting your film transfered is not the best place to try to save money. You can over spend, but you can also underspend. If the transfer house is not willing to accommodate you, then find another shop that will. And maybe they’ll come down on their price to be more competitive with the less accommodating shop.

Arnie
Post production is not an afterthought!
https://www.arniepix.com/

[Ron Craig]

Certainly there can be problems with any vendor. But I have checked this vendor out well and their services are high-end; not cut rate. If they can’t deliver a codec that I can use successfully then I’ll obviously move to another vendor. That’s why I’m asking for expert advice here on whether the Blackmagic AVI is a problem or is acceptable. It’s not an adversarial situation; just a business decision that needs to be made.

I appreciate all the input. I’m still hoping to find out if the Blackmagic AVI is a problem or is acceptable.

– Ron

[Michael Gissing]

Blackmagic AVI doesn’t really mean much. What actual codec are they transferring to. The wrapper is AVI and that is a nuisance but will work with a render. Blackmagic is a card I/O company that supports hundreds of different codecs.

So the real question to ask is what codec, ( and @ what frame rate, timecode type and pixel aspect).

[Ron Craig]

Thank you for that, Michael. Not being a Blackmagic guy, I didn’t know that. I’ll check.

— Ron

[Gary Adcock]

[Ron Craig] “I’d be interested in hearing what experience others have had using Blackmagic AVIs without having Blackmagic hardware/software installed. “

Sorry Ron
but your Kona Card will not run correctly with the BMD codecs installed.

gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows for the Digitally Inclined
Chicago, IL

https://library.creativecow.net/articles/adcock_gary/AJAIOHD.php

[Ron Craig]

Thank you, Gary, for that information. Much appreciated. So that option is checked off the list. Do you happen to know if the Blackmagic AVI would play/edit successfully in FCP2?